Search

I recently wrote an article on what are 5 things you don’t need to buy for your new baby. I thought I would share those thoughts with you to see if you guys agree.

I remember going in to Babies R Us when I was pregnant thinking we would go in and pick out some needed baby things, add them to a registry and hope to see those items again at my baby shower. Who knew that you need to plan several shopping trips and LOTS of research to figure out what you do and don’t want for your baby?

Unfortunately I can’t take away your need to do research, but I may be able to save you a few minutes and save you a few dollars, by pointing out a few simple things that you simply do not need when preparing for a baby.

Expensive Crib Bedding

When shopping for your nursery “theme”, the crib bedding often takes center stage. Just remember that as adorable as that is in the crib, most of it needs to come out of the crib before the baby can go in. I remember “needing” the Alphabet Pooh bedding set, at more than $300 over 12 years ago, only to be totally disappointed that the comforter and other ‘accessories’ had to go before the baby could be placed in the crib to sleep. The comforter became a wall hanging and the other items just seemed to disappear after a while.

Strollers for Every Activity

Bottom line, you do not need a different stroller for every day of the week. Figure out what you will really use a stroller for, and choose one decent stroller for most activities. You may also opt for a small stroller that can be used for quick errands, or a really good jogging stroller IF you really jog. If you will just be going for a walk around the block with baby, you don’t need a $500 jogging stroller – no matter how much you think you need one…

Diaper Genie

We had one when my son was a baby, and honestly used it for a pretty long time. Problem is, you are storing wet and soiled diapers in it for quite a while. (Don’t kid yourself about promising you will empty it often – they are a pain to empty so you won’t empty it nearly as often as you would want to.) After a while, it’s gonna smell and there isn’t too much you can do about it. Save yourself the hassle and just throw the diapers away in your normal trash. Wrap any soiled diapers in tin foil to reduce the smell in your trash.

Baby wipe warmers

Baby wipe warmers can be very tempting, but all they really do is dry out the baby wipes too quickly. You can either rinse the baby wipes in warm water in the sink prior to changing baby, or you em in your hand for a few seconds – your body heat will do the trick quite nicely.

Too Many Baby Clothes

You change a babies clothes pretty frequently, but not so frequently that you need to have mountains of clothes ready for them to wear in every size. And please watch the excessive ruffles on baby girl dresses. Crinoline should be reserved for older girls dresses or special occasion dresses that are fully lined (such as Baptismal gowns). Announcing the gender of your child before birth is sure to send many of your guests out to buy as much pink or blue clothing items as they can. Take a hard look at what you have for your baby – especially small sizes – and try to return some of it before the baby is born. You can save the store credit for later use. It’s also helpful because you really don’t know what size your baby will need. Big babies in our family have always flown through newborn and 3 month sizes and were wearing 6 month clothing at a pretty young age.

Can you think of any items that new parents may be tempted to buy, but may later on find unnecessary? Please share those items in the comments section.

Anne-Marie Dunn is the Owner of www.BaptismalGownsPlus.com. We specialize in Baptismal and First Communion Apparel for both boys and girls.

2 Responses to “Having a Baby? What Not To Buy…”

Great article! I have a couple suggestions. With the exception of sheets and a mattress pad, skip the bedding set. Bumpers are a danger and a pain to deal with in the middle of the night. Instead, go for a more neutral theme that the child can grow into using accents to make the room more baby-friendly. If your crib converts into a toddler bed or full-size headboard and you feel like you need to purchase a quilt or comforter, purchase the blanket to fit after the crib has been converted. When my sister had her son, she knew she wanted a dinosaur theme. As a shower gift, I purchased the full-size quilt which she draped over a chair as accent. One less purchase she had to make later. My other suggestions: Diapers. Try different brands. Some generic brands work just as well as the name brands. Swing: Go for a simple swing with a few settings. Highchair: I had a top of the line highchair. Looked fabulous! Lots of cool angles. I discovered that top of the line meant more place for food to hide. Go for a simple, safe highchair. *My favorite alternative is a seat that straps onto a chair, reclines for infant feedings and has a tray. The tray can be removed and the seat converts into a booster seat for toddlers. Cost around $35.00 – $50.00. So much cleaner and cheaper and can be easily transported.

Thank you for your comments – all very valid points. Especially the high end high chair – I also had one and I would spend forever trying to get it clean. I’m sure parents could save a lot of money with the diaper suggestion once they find the brand they like best!